In this video, Karen Hanretty explains why she thinks John Edwards is on the tipping point of fizzling in the presidential race.

Is it me, or does anyone else see the irony of the McCain in McCain-Feingold having severe campaign fundraising problems? And also the irony of his being in such miserable shape because of his unwavering support for some of the least popular policies of his erstwhile nemesis, George W. Bush?

But there he is ... out there on the limb on Iraq, supporting a war that so many others say is unsupportable. But the very arguments he and the president make about staying the course, and the opposite "get-out-while-we can" arguments made by their adversaries, point up the real dilemma here: There are only lousy choices. Read more...

Congress is busily drafting a new version of a time-honored boondoggle ... er, I mean, the Farm Bill. I’ll admit it, I’ve never been a big fan of a piece of legislation that gives subsidies to the likes of NBA star Scottie Pippen just because he happens to own some land designated as “farm acreage.” And bear in mind the last Farm Bill Congress produced ran upwards of $80 billion, all for a dwindling population of true farmers — less than 3 percent of our overall workforce, last time I checked.

But this season adds a different twist. The latest biofuel/ethanol craze has farmers lining up for a new round of agriculture subsidies, and incorporating a very impressive marketing effort while they’re at it. Read more...

Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) shook up his campaign team yesterday and replaced his current management with the architect of his improbable 2000 presidential campaign. Commentators are focusing on his lack of money in the bank and the instability caused by the staff moves as reasons to count him out. I think those criticisms miss the mark. Money and stability are important, but the bigger challenge for his new team will be to fashion a sharper message that will allow him to  appeal to a broader constituency within the Republican Party and Republican-leaning independents.

First to stability: Every campaign gets one “do over.” This is McCain’s. Winning campaigns in the past have shaken up their staff — successfully, in many cases. The question is whether the new management can induce the changes necessary for the campaign to begin to gain momentum and traction.  Read more...

The cover of American Legion magazine’s July 2007 issue reads “VIEW FROM IRAQ: REAL LIFE IN THE WAR ZONE.” Inside is an interview with an Iraqi soldier, First Lt. Mohamed Raad, age 28, a member of the 1st Iraqi Army Battalion.

As the U.S. Senate readies to vote on another withdrawal amendment, and as September (the month when Gen. David Petreaus reports on the progress of the “surge” strategy) looms heavy over the Bush administration, it would perhaps be good to hear from Iraqi soldiers, like First Lt. Raad, who are able to hold back a complete terrorist takeover of Iraq only with the assistance of the U.S. military.

Ideally, this Iraqi soldier would testify before the U.S. Congress and hear directly from senators like Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), who is quoted in today’s Washington Times as saying Americans “want this mission to end.” Ms. Boxer and her colleagues, including an increasing number of Republicans, should have to look First Lt. Saad squarely in the eye and tell him, “The mission is over; we’re going home. Good luck.”  Read more...

Now we learn that when Congress considered the Patriot Act, Attorney General Alberto Gonzales testified that there was not one instance of abuse of rights, when he had been privately briefed about more than one instance of abuse of rights.

Testifying falsely is a federal crime, whether under oath or not. There is now probable cause to conclude that Alberto Gonzales  has testified falsely more than once.

There is a range of issues involving acts that could be in violation of law including testimony, cover-up of Abu Ghraib, eavesdropping without judicial approval and inappropriate firings that comprise a partial list.

Alberto Gonzales is innocent until proven guilty, but these matters should now be decided under the rule of law, based on commonly accepted standards of law, through the normal criminal investigative process, and if necessary a jury of his peers. If convicted any sentence should be meted out within the sentencing guidelines, including prison time if he is convicted of crimes that warrant incarceration under the law.  Read more...

Just a few hours ago, The Chicago Tribune reported that U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said he has a “gut feeling” we face an increased chance of a terrorist attack this summer. The Tribune quoted Chertoff as saying, “I believe we are entering a period this summer of increased risk ...”  He went on to say, “Summertime seems to be appealing to [terrorists]. ... We worry that they are rebuilding their activities.”

Good heavens above, our whole national security effort has been reduced to a feeling in Chertoff’s tummy. Does this mean that the Department of Homeland Security is going to raise the terror threat to Pepto-Bismol pink?

Terrorists seem to like summertime. (Note to self: Scratch summertime as a favorite season of the year.)

Listen up, mainstream media and Chris Matthews: John McCain isn’t doing poorly in the polls and being rejected by Republican voters because of his support for the Iraq war. It’s about taxes, and campaign finance reform and immigration. Period. How many times do you all have to be told this before it sinks in? It ain’t about Iraq.

Former Sen. Rick Santorum (R-Pa.) summed it up best last March during an interview on Hugh Hewitt’s conservative radio program:  Read more...

In this video, Brent Budowsky says the fate of the Iraq war lies in the hands of Republicans, whom he says need to exert stronger opposition to Bush on Iraq. Read more on the subject in his op-ed here